Good Looks And Good Taste

Mexican mint marigold offers flowers and flavor.

Are you looking for a plant that has great fall color and doesn't need a lot of attention in the summer? What about an excellent cut flower? How about a culinary herb? seem like too much to ask of one plant? Well, look no further than Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida). It's drought tolerant once established, and with well-drained soil and plenty of sun, this compact shrub will produce a profusion of yellow blooms every fall.

In the Garden

Space plants about a foot apart so that, as the leaves fill in, they'll rub against each other and produce a wonderful aroma. Consider planting them along an entry pathway, where the scent will greet visitors and invite them in. If temperatures drop below 20 degrees in your part of the South, treat Mexican mint marigold as an annual. Or plant in containers, and keep pots inside in a sunny location during winter.

What makes Mexican mint marigold a truly great cut flower is that the more blooms are cut, the better the plant grows. So even if you don't use the flowers for arrangements, prune off all the color every month. After the first fall frost, it's a good idea to prune the stems back to the ground for more vigorous regrowth next spring.

In the Kitchen

Mexican mint marigold makes an excellent addition to an herb garden. The glossy, lance-shaped leaves can be substituted for tarragon in recipes. Just use a smaller quantity of Mexican mint marigold due to its stronger flavor.

MEXICAN MINT MARIGOLD

At a Glance

Size: up to 3 feet tall

Light: full sun with late-afternoon shade

Blooms: yellow blossoms from late summer through fall

Fragrance: Leaves smell like licorice.

Pests: None. Its scent repels insects.

Propagation: either seeds or cuttings

Range: Middle, Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South (hardy to 20 degrees; an annual in the Upper South)

GOOD LOOKS AND GOOD TASTE

Page 68: Mexican mint marigolds available at Petals From the Past (O, R).

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Sep 2004
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